SAAB News: Nothing On Earth Comes Close

He worked for Saab and he gave us works like “Top Gun”. Tony Scott, the grand master of many action films, will remain unforgettable to us. The night of Monday committed suicide at the age of 68, but his works continue to exist. In the early 80s, in the middle of the wild “Turbo Years”, Scott worked for the cult brand from Trollhättan. “Nothing On Earth Comes Close” is the name of the Saab commercial.

Nothing On Earth Comes Close: Saab 900 Turbo

And Scott was right. Saab and the turbo legend are incomparable. I still remember my first Saab contact in a Saab 900 Turbo steep-section. There was nothing comparable at the time which was even nearly as cool as this turbo from Sweden.

Born from Jets was more than a slogan from the marketing box. It was reality.

Rest in peace Tony Scott. And thanks for the movies!

Beijing car Shenbao D280

Our eyes continue to China, where the Beijing Auto Shenbao D280 is waiting to start production. D280 is the name of the production version of the C70, which is based on the old Saab 9-5 platform. No matter what the vehicle will be called, the Chinese violate existing trademark rights. BAIC annoys Volvo with the designation “C70” because the tin roof Cabriolet from Uddevalla bears the same designation. And with the name “Shenbao”, the automaker penetrates from the capital into the area of ​​Saab AB. Because “Shenbao” is the regional translation for “Saab”.

Unpleasant in any case and it wonders why the Chinese for decades have not learned to respect Western rights. They export their products to our countries, they want to be welcomed as investors with open arms. But they are not able to accept our rules.

BAIC C70 or D280 in production version

Series production with the 30 liter turbo starts on September 2.0th, but when the 2.3 liter will arrive is unclear. Actually, it doesn't matter to us, because the production version no longer has anything to do with a Saab. The car site “Autohome” from China has published pictures of the production version, including interior pictures for the first time. The entire interior design was completely redesigned and became very arbitrary and without any recognizable design philosophy. The D280 or C70 at least has no visual Saab DNA anywhere and is therefore, fortunately, not a visual clone of the brand from Sweden.

Impressions from Trollhättan

Almost no change in the situation in Saab City. Readers and Saab fan Mathias, who has recently started using a Saab Turbo X in his family, is currently on the road in Trollhättan. In a short mail he has described his impressions. He has good news from the Saab Museum. It fills, he writes, the museum shop. There is now finally and after a long time more souvenirs to buy, such as watches, posters or books. One more reason to spend the Saab collection!

At the work itself, it still looks bleak. The Saab flags, which blew proudly in the wind on our last visit, are gone and only a few prototypes are left and forgotten in the parking lot. It's a ghostly void on the grounds. Thank you Mathias for the mail!

The work is on hold and looks sad too. The lawyers have done their job as far as the factory is concerned and the site would be swept clean for a new owner who could move in at any time. Former Saab employees who work for the administrators are on vacation or have completed their assignments and are now looking for a new job.

The question that arises is the following: Who brings the work out of its sleep? And when? We will see.

Text: tom@saabblog.net

 

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phibo
phibo
11 years earlier

There is still an error-free version on Youtube - patient searching helps. Either this is a variant for the English market, or someone snipped it out himself.

Saabansbraten
Saabansbraten
11 years earlier

I noticed the following:

First the driver goes to the right, then suddenly gets in on the other side (as far as logical, since the ventilation slot is also located there), then suddenly finds himself again on the right (viewed from the front; scene in which the window closes) around then to drive out there with the car (which has suddenly mutated to the Saab 9000) (in the next scene from the front it's a 900 again, and he's sitting on the other side again)

I think that takes some of the film's good performance away

phibo
phibo
11 years earlier

Thank you ... I also have a good optician, I'll ask.

Incidentally, the spot is available in several versions, someone has noticed that the driver while right takes and seats (as if he would drive a British version), then after the cut and for the rest of the spot but left (ie continental European) sits ?

Torsten
11 years earlier

Hello PhiBo!
Have a look in the time lapse times would have the aviator of RayBan in silver. Was there at that time and still exists.
Is the "original" aviator glasses - which would be logical for the film.
Can I get you cheap, have an optics shop.
Greetings, Torsten

phibo
phibo
11 years earlier

I agree with Torsten - goose bumps are guaranteed with this film. With almost two minutes playing time, it is incredibly long by today's standards, but also incredibly intense. By now everyone knows how I celebrate driving out of the garage every morning 😉

Can you buy the driver's sunglasses anywhere?

Torsten Klippel
11 years earlier

Man, Tom!
What a great commercial. As a 900 junkie I get goose bumps.
A tragedy that killed Toni Scott. I would have liked to meet him at a Saab meeting.